The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation
The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation is a private foundation based in Ankeny, Iowa. It makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and states on its 2025 filing that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation at a glance
In short: The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation gave $726K across 72 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in Iowa. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $725,800
- +148.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 72
- +63.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,081
- +52.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $4,284,593
- +21.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Iowa (80% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 187, Ankeny, IA 50021
Phone: (515) 964-1587
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Prairie Ridge Church ($75K). Together the top 10 received $377K.
Grant Size Distribution
201 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 196 grants of 201 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Iowa organizations received 80% of the foundation’s grant dollars. Other recipient-state shares were Minnesota, 7%; Illinois, 4%; North Carolina, 2%; and Florida, 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 72 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation gives
- 47% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 425% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $42K (2020) to $726K (2025). In 2025 it made 72 grants totaling $726K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Prairie Ridge Church Ankeny, IA | General Fund | $75,000 |
| Des Moines Children Museum West Des Moines, IA | General Fund | $50,000 |
| Iowa Health Foundation Des Moines, IA | General Fund | $50,000 |
| Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN | Alzheimer's Disease Research | $50,000 |
| Animal Rescue League of Iowa Inc Des Moines, IA | General Fund | $35,000 |
| Alzheimers Assocation Chicago, IL | General Fund | $26,500 |
| Blank Children's Hospital Des Moines, IA | General Fund | $25,000 |
| On with Life Ankeny, IA | General Fund | $25,000 |
| The Easter Seal Society Foundation Des Moines, IA | General Fund | $25,000 |
| Little White Schoolhouse Foundation Ankeny, IA | General Fund | $15,300 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,284,593 | $2,033,975 | $819,351 | $725,800 | 72 | $725,800 | $1,225,805 | $754,287 |
| 2024 | $3,540,798 | $1,117,292 | $338,250 | $291,700 | 44 | $291,700 | $136,265 | $315,377 |
| 2023 | $2,761,756 | $986,037 | $223,937 | $178,000 | 40 | $178,000 | $72,204 | $194,302 |
| 2022 | $1,999,656 | $144,155 | $195,824 | $138,250 | 30 | $138,250 | $88,140 | $152,522 |
| 2021 | $2,051,325 | $515,092 | $145,012 | $86,500 | 15 | $86,500 | $111,251 | $134,753 |
| 2020 | $1,681,245 | $389,934 | $90,614 | $41,500 | 10 | — | $39,115 | $128,590 |
| 2019 | $1,381,925 | $708,044 | $182,831 | $70,613 | 17 | — | — | $66,549 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $754K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations in areas including health, animal welfare, brain injury rehabilitation, services for children with special health care needs, dental care, and support for women who have experienced sexual exploitation or trafficking. These examples describe the work of recipients, not stated focus areas of the foundation.
For example, Iowa Health Foundation says its mission is “improving the health of our communities through philanthropy, service and volunteerism.” On With Life says it helps people living with brain injury “get on with life” and aims to be a provider of choice in brain injury rehabilitation. ChildServe Foundation says it partners with families to help children with special health care needs live a great life. Other 2025 recipients include the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, which describes its mission as promoting animal welfare and preventing pet overpopulation, and Dental Connections, which says it works to provide equal access to quality dental care and education.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 72 grants totaling $725,800. Grants ranged from $500 to $75,000, with a median of $5,000.
Among the largest awards were $75,000 to Prairie Ridge Church for its general fund; $50,000 each to Des Moines Children Museum and Iowa Health Foundation for their general funds; and $50,000 to Mayo Clinic for Alzheimer’s disease research. Other notable grants included $35,000 to Animal Rescue League of Iowa; $25,000 each to Blank Children’s Hospital, On With Life, and The Easter Seal Society Foundation; and $15,000 each to Little White Schoolhouse Foundation, ChildServe Foundation, and Dental Connections. Garden Gate Ranch received $15,000; it describes its mission as providing hope, restoration, empowerment, dignity, and purpose for sexually exploited and sex trafficked women.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Dennis L. Elwell as president, treasurer, and director; Candy Elwell as vice president, secretary, and director; and Brianna Elwell Kinsley and Christian M. Murray as directors.
The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation is led by Dennis L. Elwell, President, Treasurer & Director since 2024 (on filings since 2019); none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Dennis L. Elwell
President, Treasurer & Director
President & Director → President, Treasurer & Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Candy Elwell
Vice President, Secretary & Director
Director → Vice President, Secretary & Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brianna Elwell Kinsley
Director
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christian M. Murray
Director
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation
How much does The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation give each year?
The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation gave $726K across 72 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $292K across 44 grants.
What is The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation's typical grant size?
The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $10,081, across 72 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation give grants?
The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation gives mostly in Iowa: 80% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Minnesota (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Des Moines, IA (28 grants), Ankeny, IA (14 grants), West Des Moines, IA (4 grants) and Johnston, IA (3 grants).
Does The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 99% of The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (71 of 72) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation's largest grantees?
The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Prairie Ridge Church ($75,000), Des Moines Children Museum ($50,000) and Iowa Health Foundation ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation?
The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation reported $4.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $726K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $754K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation's EIN?
The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1298057. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 11, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 16, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 19, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 29, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-denny-and-candy-elwell-foundation-morg_0b0bf8553a1d4302970a4848515b5d3d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_421298057_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-denny-and-candy-elwell-foundation-morg_0b0bf8553a1d4302970a4848515b5d3d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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